Mechanism for raising and lowering sewing machine head



Sept. 8, 1959 J. H. VAN ORD-r MECHANISM FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SEWING MACHINE HEAD Filed May 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept.l 8, 1959 J. H. VAN ORD-r MECHANISM FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SEWING MACHINE HEAD Filed May 31, 1956 LLM INVENTOR, Ww @4a/Z' MECHANISM FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SEWING MACHINE HEAD Jay H. Van Ordt, Chicago, Ill., assign'or to A. C. Weber & C0., Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May `31, 1956, Serial No. '588,385

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-29) This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to a mechanism `for lowering a sewing machine relative to its supporting structure such as a conventional cabinet and for raising the machine to one or more operative positions above the top of the cabinet.

A primary object of the invention is to devise an improved mechanism, such as above described, wherein relatively `few and inexpensive parts as required and wherein the construction is not only etlicient but is economical and capable of long and dependable life in service.

Another object of the invention is to afford a novel and inexpensive means for releasably latching the sewing machine at a lower inoperative position Within the cabinet and at one or more operative positions above the level thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to releasably latch the sewing machine at a lower operative position whereat the work support through which the needle operates is approximately ush with the top of the cabinet, as is required for conventional seam stitching and edging, and also to releasably latch the sewing machine at an upper operative position, as is desirable for making button holes and `for elbow stitching.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a link or arm having an upper edge along which a support element for the sewing machine rides as the link moves upwardly or downwardly.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel spring actuator operatively connected to said arm for biasing the latter upwardly, thereby supporting `at least part of the sewing machines weight as it moved upwardly to operative position.

Another object of the invention is to guide the link between a mount, which supports the sewing machine, and a guide bracket which guides the mount in its vertical movement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide one or more notches in the upper edge of the arm to receive said support element when the machine is in `at least one operative position thereof.

A different object of the invention is to devise a toggle mechanism for raising and lowering the machine, said mechanism being at one side of dead center when the machine is at an operative position or is moving to and from such position, and said mechanism being at the opposite side of dead center when the sewing machine is at inoperative position at the bottom of the cabinet, whereby the machine is releasably latched in said inoperative position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel spring loaded toggle mechanism for elevating `and supporting a sewing machine, which mechanism can be assembled or adjusted as a unit.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent `from a consideration ings, wherein:

stent O lCC Figure 1 is a general assembly view, in perspective, of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of one toggle mechanism and sewing machine mount, shown in solid lines at .an upper operative position of the sewing machine and shown in phantom lines at a lower operative position thereof;

Figure 3 is an edge elevational view taken from the left of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective of the novel spring loaded toggle mechanism or unit which is used in Figures 1 3;

Figur 5 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the sewing machine mount .and toggle mechanism in solid lines releasably latched at lowermost inoperative position of the machine and illustrating the toggle mechanism in phantom lines at dead center position; and

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 5.

Describing the invention in detail yand referring first to Figure 1, it will be seen that a preferred embodiment of the novel sewing machine support and elevating device is illustrated as applied to a frame or cabinet 2 having vertical guide slots 4 at opposite sides thereof to guide vertical movement of carriage mounts or supports 6 carrying .a base 8 of a conventional sewing machine 10 mounted for movement to one or more upper operative positions above an opening l2 of the cabinet and to a lower inoperative position in said opening. The sewing machine is resiliently supported and elevated during such movement by a spring loaded toggle mechanism 14 mounted in the cabinet and operatively connected to respective mounts `6, as hereinafter described in connection with the detailed construction of the novel device.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 6, it will be seen that each guide slot 4 is somewhat T-shaped in form as shown in Figure 6 and is defined within a readily removeable guide bracket `16 having a rear wall 18 mounted as by screws 20 to the interior of the cabinet 2. The bracket 16 also has side walls 22 approximately parallel to each other and formed along their free or spaced edges with inturned substantially coplanar flanges 24 which confine rollers 26 mounted on shafts 27 of the related mount 6 to prevent yaccidental displacement of said rollers from the slot 4 as the mount 6 moves vertically within the cabinet and is afforded a rolling guide during such movement by the rollers 26.

The mount 6, which may be integral with the machine or attached thereto as by screws 29, comprises a support element, such as a pin or roller 2li moveable along the upper edge of a toggle link or arm Sil comprising a pair of notches 32 and 33 in said edge to receive the roller 28 under certain conditions hereinafter described.

The link 30 is pivoted at 34 to a mounting plate or bracket 36 removeably attached to the interior of the cabinet as by screws 38 (Figs. 2 and 5), and the link 30 is pivoted at `4t) to another toggle link 42 which is pivoted .at 44 to a spring operated link 46 pivoted by a pin 48 to the plate 36 and to a ilange 50 formed on a bottom wall 52 of said plate.

The pin 48 also is sleeved within a torsionally acting coil spring 54 having one end thereof bearing against the forward edge of the wall 52, the opposite end of said spring bearing against a downwardly facing edge of a lug 56 on the inner side of the link 46 along its lower edge.

Thus it will be understood that the links 30, 42, and 46 together with the mounting bracket 36 and the spring 54 constitute a convenient unit or subassembly which may be easily attached to or removed `from a sewing machine cabinet 2 and may be adjusted therein as a complete unit.

Furthermore, the end of link 30 remote from its pivot point is guidably received between the mount 6 and the bracket 16, as `best seen in Figure 3, to snugly guide the link during movement thereof as hereinafter described.

The novel sewing machine support and elevating device is particularly adapted to releasably latch the machine and yieldingly support it in two operative positions, namely an upper operative position with the link 30 in the position shown by solid lines in Figure 2 and a lower operative position with the link 30 in the position shown by phantom lines in Figure 2.

In the upper operative position of the sewing machine its work support through which the needle (not shown) operates is above the top of the cabinet 2, as is desirable in the use of the machine for making button holes, elbow stitching, and knitting. In the lower operative position of the machine its work support is flush with the top of the cabinet as is desirable in ordinary seam sewing or edging.

In the upper operative position of the machine Z' the notch 32 of each link 30 receives the pin or roller 28 of the related mount 6 thereby releasably latching the machine `in said position, as shown by solid lines in Figure 2. When suicient manual pressure is exerted against the machine to urge it downwardly against the resistance of spring 54 the pin or roller 28 is forced out of the notch 32 and continued pressure of less magnitude is required as the pin 28 moves along the upper edge of the link 30 until the pin 28 snaps into the notch 33, as shown by phantom lines in Figure 2, thereby releasably latching the machine in its lower operative position for sewing operations such as heretofore described.

When it is desired to urge the machine to its lowermost or inoperative position within the cabinet 2, sufficient manual pressure is exerted against the machine to force the pin 28 out of the notch 33, and continued downward pressure of less magnitude is required until the toggle passes dead center. After the toggle passes said dead center position with the pivot point 40 below dead center, the spring 54 exerts a force against the toggle which tends to urge the pivot point 40 downwardly to its lowermost position whereat the link 46 is seated against the bracket wall 52 as shown by solid lines in Figure 5. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention very slight downward pressure on the machine 10 may be necessary to overcome friction in the toggle as it moves from dead center position to the position shown by solidlines in Figure 5. Y

Thus it will be understood that after the pivot point 40 moves below dead center as the machine 10 moves downwardly, the spring is effective to bias the machine toward its lowermost position and to yieldingly latch the machine in said position by means of the toggle 14.

It will be understood that latching of the machine 10 in its lowermost inoperative position by actuating the toggle mechanism 14 to its below-dead-center position, as heretofore described, is an important aspect of the invention; however, if desired, other means may be provided for this purpose if other objects of the invention are desired in combination with conventional means for latching the machine 10 `in its lowermost inoperative position.

When the operator desires to move the machine 10 upwardly to one of its operative positions, a lifting force must be developed against the machine of sucient magnitude to force the pivot point 40 upwardly past its dead center position, whereupon the spring 54 urges the link 30 upwardly thereby relieving the operator of a major part of the machines weight.

As the machine 10 moves upwardly, it normally tends to latch in its lower operative position as pin 28 enters notch 33; however, the machine can be moved through said position without stopping at said position by continued lifting force against the machine as pin 28 enters notch 33. Under such conditions the rolling or sliding friction of the roller or pin 28 (as the case may be) against the upper edge of the link 30 is less than the static friction of said roller o'r pin against said link when the machine is latched in its lowermost operative position. Thus it is easier to move the machine upwardly or downwardly through its lowermost operative position than to move the machine from said position after the machine has been held stationary at said position by retention or" the pin or roller in notch 33.

Whether the machine is urged upwardly through its lower operative position, without stopping in said position, or is elevated from said position after stopping there, upward movement of the machine may continue until the pin or roller 28 snaps into the notch 32 whereupon the link 42 contacts a lug or stop 58 on the inner side of the bracket 36 to stop continued upward movement of the machine 10 which is thus releasably latched in its upper operative position until urged downwardly as heretofore described.

If only the lower operative position of the machine is required, the stop S3 may be arranged to prevent movement of link 30 above the position shown at phantom lines in Figure 2.

'Ihus it will be understood that the novel sewing machine and elevating device is simple and economical in construction and is durable, due to the use of relatively few parts of sound design. The device comprises a novel toggle mechanism having a link rollingly or slideably engaged with a sewing machine support element such as a pin or roller and preferably notched to receive said element and thereby latch the machine in one or more positions thereof. It may also be noted that the toggle mechanism is spring loaded to either side of dead center, to support at least part of the machines weight when the mechanism is at one side of dead center, and to yieldingly latch the machine at its lowermost position when the mechanism is at opposite side of dead center. Another important feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the toggle mechanism and its spring actuator in a unitary subassembly which can be applied to or removed from a sewing machine cabinet as a unit or can be adjusted as a unit therein.

While the present invention hasvbeen explained and described with reference to specific embodiments of structure, it will be understood, nevertheless, that numerous modifications and variations are susceptible of being incorporated without departure from the essential spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, it is not intended for an understanding of this invention to be limited by the foregoing description nor by the illustrations in the annexed drawings, except as indicated in the hereinafter appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

l. In a device for supporting a sewing machine from a cabinet; the combination of mutually facing vertical guide slots in said cabinet, mounts having rollers received within respective slots, said mounts supporting said machine, a toggle mechanism associated with each mount comprising a link pivoted to the cabinet and extending between said mount and the related slot, means carried by said mount engageable with and moveable along the upper edge of said link, a pair of notches in said edge to receive said means for releasably latching the mount in vertically spaced positions, respectively, corresponding to upper and lower operative positions of the machine, another link having a pivotal connection to the first-mentioned link, a third link pivoted to the cabinet and pivoted to said other link, spring means operatively connected to said third link for urging it upwardly, one of said notches receiving said rst-mentioned means when said pivotal connection is below dead center of said mechanism and said machine is at an inoperative position below said operative positions.

2. In a device for elevating a sewing machine relative to a support structure; the combination of mutually facing guide slots, mounts having rollers received in respective slots, links pvoted to the structure and having upper edges, support elements on respective mounts riding along the upper edges of respective links, a notch in each of said edges to receive the related element for releasably retaining the machine at an elevated position, and means associated with each link for actuation thereof, said means comprising another link, a third link pivoted to said first-mentioned and second-mentioned links, a pin pivoting the second-mentioned link to said structure, and a coil spring sleeved over said pin, said spring having one end reacting against the structure and the other end reacting against one of said links to urge the first-mentioned link upwardly.

References Cited in the le of this patent 

